Geranium plant named ‘Genfipurple’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant named ‘Genfipurple’ that is characterized by semi-double purple red flowers, medium green foliage, a moderate growth habit and an early to medium flower response.

Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Variety denomination: ‘Genfipurple’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Genfipurple’.

The new cultivar is the product of a breeding program conducted by the inventor in a cultivated area of Hagenbach, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new Geranium cultivars that are early flowering with semi-double flowers and medium green foliage.

‘Genfipurple’ is a hybrid that originated from the induced hybridization of the female or seed parent a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified by number H200 (not patented) and the male or pollen parent a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified by number G211 (not patented). The cultivar ‘Genfipurple’ was selected by the inventor in 2000 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment of Hagenbach, Germany.

Asexual reproduction by terminal cuttings of the new cultivar ‘Genfipurple’ were first done in 2001 in Hagenbach, Germany. Since that time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Geranium cultivar ‘Genfipurple’. These traits in combination distinguish ‘Genfipurple ’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other known existing varieties of Geranium.

-   -   1. Geranium ‘Genfipurple’ exhibits purple red flowers.     -   2. Geranium ‘Genfipurple’ exhibits semi-double flowers.     -   3. Geranium ‘Genfipurple’ exhibits medium green foliage.     -   4. Geranium ‘Genfipurple’ exhibits an early to medium flower         response.     -   5. Geranium ‘Genfipurple’ exhibits a moderate growth habit.

The closest comparison variety is Geranium ‘Pacshovi’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,210). ‘Genfipurple’ is different than ‘Pacshovi’ in having flowers that are more red. The flowers of ‘Pacshovi’ have a white area at the base of the upper petal. The flowers of ‘Genfipurple’ do not have a white area at the base of the upper petal.

The new cultivar ‘Genfipurple’ is distinguishable from the female parent Geranium proprietary selection H200 by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Genfipurple’ has purple red flowers. The flowers of H200 are         more red.

The new cultivar ‘Genfipurple’ is distinguishable from the male parent Geranium proprietary selection G211 by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Genfipurple’ has purple red flowers. The flowers of G211 are         more red.     -   2. ‘Genfipurple’ has darker green leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits of Geranium ‘Genfipurple’. The plant in the photograph shows an overall view of a 12 week old plant. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Geranium cultivar named ‘Genfipurple’. Data was collected in Hagenbach, Germany from 12 week old plants grown under glass greenhouse conditions. The plants were grown in 12 cm diameter containers. The time of year was Spring and the daytime temperature ranged from 18 to 26° Centigrade. The temperature at night ranged from 16 to 20° Centigrade. The light level was 20 to 35 klux. No photoperiodic treatments were used. The growth retardant CYCOCEL 720 was applied at a rate of 0.05 percent. Color determinations are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similar to the species.

‘Genfipurple’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar     ‘Genfipurple’. -   Annual or perennial: Annual. -   Parentage: ‘Genfipurple’ is a hybrid plant that resulted from the     induced hybridization of the following parent plants:     -   -   Female parent.—A proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum identified by number H200.         -   Male parent.—A proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum             identified by number G211. -   Vigor: Moderate. -   Growth rate: Approximately 6 cm. per month. -   Growth habit: Upright, outwardly spreading. -   Plant shape: Globose. -   Plant height: Average 20 cm. in height. -   Plant width: Average 20 cm. in width. -   Suitable container size: 10 to 14 cm containers. -   Propagation: Terminal cuttings. -   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 5-7 days to produce roots on     an initial cutting. -   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner: Approximately 20-24 days. -   Crop time: From a rooted cutting, approximately 12.5 weeks are     required to produce a finished flowering plant. -   High temperature tolerance: 40 degrees Centigrade. -   Low temperature tolerance: 0 degrees Centigrade. -   Root system: Fine and fibrous. -   Stem:     -   -   Branching habit.—Free branching.         -   Basal branching.—Yes.         -   Average number of lateral branches.—6.         -   Pinching.—No.         -   Lateral branch dimensions.—11 cm. in length and 1 cm. in             diameter.         -   Lateral branch strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Color.—143B.         -   Pubescence.—Present.         -   Internode length.—2.5 cm. between nodes.         -   Shape.—Round.         -   Surface.—Glabrous, slightly glossy. -   Foliage:     -   -   Texture.—Both sides smooth.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Compound or single.—Single.         -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—7.         -   Leaf shape.—Reniform.         -   Leaf apex.—Rounded.         -   Leaf base.—Cordate.         -   Leaf length.—4 cm. in length.         -   Leaf width.—7.5 cm. in width.         -   Pubescence.—Present both sides.         -   Leaf margin.—Bicrenate.         -   Vein pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—137C.         -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—137D.         -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—137B.         -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—137C.         -   Vein color (upper surface).—137C.         -   Vein color (lower surface).—137C.         -   Zonation color.—147A to 147B.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Petiole dimensions.—3.8 cm. in length and 2.0 mm. in width.         -   Petiole color.—137C. -   Stipules:     -   -   Stipule dimensions.—0.9 cm in length and 1.0 cm in width.         -   Stipule color.—143C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Rounded hemispherical umbels.         -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel.         -   Inflorescence dimensions.—6.0 cm in height and 10.0 cm in             width.         -   Flowering habit.—Continuous.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Approximately 9.         -   Quantity of buds per lateral stem.—Approximately 25.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 156.         -   Flowering season.—Spring to Summer.         -   Time to flower.—Approximately 8 weeks.         -   Rate of flower opening.—Approximately 36% of the flowers are             opened at once.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Bud dimensions.—7 mm. in length and 4.3 mm. in diameter.         -   Bud shape.—Elliptic.         -   Bud color.—143B.         -   Rate of bud opening.—3 days.         -   Flower aspect.—Upright.         -   Flower shape.—Shallow cup shaped, rounded, semi-double.         -   Flower dimensions.—4.8 cm. in diameter and 2.0 cm. in             height.         -   Flower longevity.—Lasts approximately 10 days on plant.         -   Petal texture.—Glabrous.         -   Number of petals.—9 in number.         -   Petals fused or unfused.—Unfused.         -   Petal shape.—Ovate.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal apex.—Rounded.         -   Petal base.—Attenuate.         -   Petal dimensions.—2.4 cm. in length and 2.0 cm. in width.         -   Upper petal color when opening (upper side).—57A.         -   Lower petal color when opening (upper side).—66A.         -   Upper petal color when opening (under side).—57A.         -   Lower petal color when opening (under side).—66A.         -   Upper petal color fully opened (upper side).—57A.         -   Lower petal color fully opened (upper side).—66A.         -   Upper petal color fully opened (under side).—57A.         -   Lower petal color fully opened (under side).—66A.         -   Petaloid shape.—Triangular.         -   Petaloid quantity.—Average 1.         -   Petaloid dimensions.—1.3 cm. in length and 5 mm. in width.         -   Petaloid color.—57A. -   Self-cleaning or persistent: Persistent. -   Sepals:     -   -   Number of sepals.—5.         -   Sepal surface.—Upper side: dull and smooth, Lower side:             pubescent.         -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Sepal margin.—Entire.         -   Sepal apex.—Acute.         -   Sepal base.—Cuneate.         -   Sepal dimensions.—1.0 cm. in length and 2.5 mm. in width.         -   Sepal color immature (upper side).—143B.         -   Sepal color immature (under side).—143B.         -   Sepal color mature (upper side).—143B with light red at the             base.         -   Sepal color mature (under side).—143B with light red at the             base. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Peduncle dimensions.—11.0 cm. in length and 3.5 mm. in             diameter.         -   Peduncle color.—144A.         -   Peduncle strength.—Moderate. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Pedicel dimensions.—3.2 cm. in length and 1.2 mm. in             diameter.         -   Pedicel color (young).—143A.         -   Pedicel color (mature).—60B.         -   Pedicel strength.—Moderate. -   Reproduction organs:     -   -   Stamen number.—10.         -   Anther shape.—Ovate.         -   Anther length.—2.5 mm.         -   Anther color.—61B.         -   Amount of pollen.—Moderate.         -   Pollen color.—31A.         -   Pistil number.—1 in number.         -   Pistil dimensions.—8 mm. in length.         -   Stigma shape.—Five parted, star shaped.         -   Stigma color.—46A.         -   Style length.—5 mm.         -   Style color.—60D.         -   Ovary color.—143B. -   Seed: Seed production has not been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Plants of the new geranium have not     been observed for disease or pest resistance. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Geranium plant named ‘Genfipurple’ as described and illustrated. 